The trees had interlaced their roots and branches across the river and in the water.

No animal, not a tree climber, could possibly cross the stream on account of the straight up and down banks.
So after a time we crept along through the grass at the edge of the stream until we reached a point probably forty yards from where the elephants doubtless were, although quite hidden from our view.

There was still a tremendous threshing in the low branches of the trees and in order to see the animals we had to creep cautiously across the peninsula to a point about half-way, where a large, rotten, dead tree stood.

This gave us cover and from its screen we could see the three elephants, only fifteen yards away.

The head of the big one was still up and it was turned directly at us.